Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-04-16
CUR NEW SECRETARY. 6
GOSSIP ABoUf THE HEAD OF THE
Treasury DEPARTMENT.
Cow FairchiId Looks, Acts and Talks.
His Family and His Home at Washing
ton-SenatOr Palmer's Spanish Speech.
Ills Wonderful Versatility.


ton-senator Palmer's Spanish Speech. |
lis Wonderful Versatility.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, April 6.
Secretary Of the Treasury Fairchild is a |
striking contrast to the secretaries of the |
treasury of the past few years. Old age and |
i'll health have been replaced by the vigor
of youth. The new secretary has none Of the
unhealthy pallor Of Secretary Folger and his
tread is free from the totter of Secretary
Manning. His eyes laugh with the bright
ness of good digestion and his rosy cheeks
show that his blood is full of life giving iron.
He is the personification of health, and there
is no dangerof his breaking down under the
strain of his duties Secretary Fairchild is
- years of age, but he does not look 70 be
more than forty. He has a strong, well
rounded form of medium height, and he
stands rs straight SIS Lake Superior oak.
His shoulders are broad, his chest full and his
head is large and well made. Els forehead is
high, broad, and full over the eyes. His
face is rather long than round. His nose
is slightly inclined to the Roman, and
it has a bridge formed to gracefully
hold his pair of black trimmed eve
classes. which he uses only occasionally.
The secretary's eyes are hazel. They are
large. full of expression, and are serious or
laughing as the conversation demands. His
hair is short. dark brown in color, and it is
connhed we'll I'D with a rather high-but not
ot all dudish-part at the left Of the forehead.
He talks easily and is perfectly at home in
lis office He has also the faculty of making
others feel at home, and, unlike Secretary
Manning. he can talk to more than one man
ot time He dresses in good taste, and he
will rank with Secretary Whitney, who is
now the elegant gentleman of the administra-
ton He is not afraid of a dress coat, like
Attorney General Garland, and his closely
buttoned black diagonal frock fits him like a
glove. Still there is nothing snobbish about
him, and he has the reputation in Washing
ton of being one Of the most accessible of the
public men here. -
Secretary Fairchild is not an experiment.
He has shown his capacity for the position by
having performed its duties for more than a
year, and am told by one of Secretary Man
ning's most intimate friends that he hesitated
about accepting the portfolio Of the treasury
until he could be assured that Fairchild
would become his assistant. AS assistant sec
rotary Fairchild practically acted as the head
of the treasury Department, and the change
is one of name rather than one of work. He
is a fast worker, and he disposes of his bust
ness very rapidly. He rises early, and during
the past winter has been in the habit of walk
ing to the department from his house, which is
flly mile away lie arrives at the depart
ment at about $50 o'clock and finds his mail
opened and ready for him. He has the fac
ulty of making other people work for him,
and much of his mail has been disposed of by
lis private secretary before he comes down.
The remainder he takes up at once and rap
lily reads. As he finishes each letter he
directs what shall be done with it, and gener
ally has it answered by the chief of the di-
Nison TO which it refers. Letters which re-
cure his personal attention and further con-
sideration he lays aside, and after the rest Of
the mail is disposed of, taxes these up and de-
cides upon Them writing some of the answers
himself and directing the answers to others
through his private secretary. He does not
use q stenographer in his work, but prefers
others to shape the letters after the plan Of
their answer has been given in word 10y him.
lie is a good reader Of men. and knows the
personnel of the chiefs of the department
thoroughly. ~ x
His mail is usually finished by II a. m, at
which time he receives the chiefs of his dlvl-
sions and consults with them about their
work After this the mali, which it is neces-
sary for him to sign, comes in from the varl-
Gus branches Of the treasury and he spends
an hour or so in affiXimg his signature to such
Of the letters as he approves. He has to read
many Of the letters carefully, and it is sur
prise to many that he often receives callers
while he is doing this carrying on the con-
versation while he glances over the letters.
Manning, during his last days here, was not
able TO sign his letters and he had stamp
prepared with which they were signed.
At 1890 Secretary Fairchild takes his
lunch. This is light meal, and it is brought
into his office by his messenger. 1t consists
of a glass of milk, several slices OF brown
bread, dish Of prunes, some Malaga grapes,
and it is topped off with an apple. The
secretary does not take smoke after 1t, and
the only smoking he does in the department Is
several hours later, when he takes cigar after
the heaviest part of his day. work is done. de
works pretty steadily, however, throughout
the day, and often receives callers during his
lunch, talking business between the bites OF
his brown bread and apple. He leaves the
department at o'clock ana takes horseback
ride between this and dinner. He keeps two
ride at least one hour daily. During the short
DAYS of the winter he rode in the morning
before coming to the department. He sits q
horse well, and has thorough knowledge OF
the country about Washington. He attrib
utes his good health largely to the regularity
Of his exercise, and thinks there is nothing
better than horseback riding to keep the
system in good condition.
So
Secretary Fairchlld is well educated
man He has q fine library in his house here
and there is an extensive law library III his
office at the department. He is a graduate
Of Harvard college and Of the Harvard law
school. Sam Tilden had much to do viii
bringing him to the front III New York poll
tics, selecting him to prosecute the cana
frauds Afterward Tilden had him nomina
ted for attorney general. The election was 6
close one, and for a time Faircbild thought
he was beaten. When the back counties were
heard from, however, he found he had 15,OOl
majority. He was an active Tilden man Al
the st. Louis convention, and had been 6
very prominent public man end lawyer be
fore Cleveland took him up. AT this time ht
was living in New York city, where he hat
moved from Albany in 1880. His law firm IL
Albany was a noted one and Its practlc'
amounted to about $4,000 year. Secretary
Fairchild still owns house there. 1t is flint
three story pressed brick on Lancaster sUree
and is worth at least Sl2,OOO.
Secretary Fairchild is well to do, though
1e is not rich in the present sense OF the WORD
lis father has a goodly property at Gaze
.ovia N V. and his wife who comes OF ont
-. e H. Naur Work state famllle